NEW Coventry City Ladies manager Chris Holloway is gearing up for what he describes as the biggest challenge of his managerial career after replacing the outgoing Paul Cudby this week.
Holloway was the stand out candidate during the interview process after receiving a call from the club's director of football Tom Stack about the availability of the role.
His previous experience in women's football includes spending six years as manager of West Brom ladies and he also had a spell with the Sky Blues last season as coach.
But Holloway admits taking over from Cudby is a big step up as City ladies continue to establish themselves in the Premier League National Division.
“I think the challenge is there for all to see and on top of that we have this mini injury crisis to deal wit h too so I'm under no illusions just how tough this job will be,” said Holloway, who takes over with the Sky Blues sitting fifth in the league standings.
“My first objective is to make sure we stay in the Premier League and I think we have a squad of players here who are more than capable of achieving that.
“I think myself and Paul play a similar style of football in that we both like to play entertaining football but at the end of the day I know that it's a results business.
“I can't knock the work Paul has done here. He's won back-to-back promotions to the Premier League and won the County Cup last season too, so there is pressure there.”
Holloway spent several months with the Sky Blues during their debut season in the top flight of women's football last season.
And believes his predecessor has left him with a squad of players that has the potential to put pressure on the top three.
“I met the girls before kick-off on Sunday just to introduce myself but I already know a lot about the squad from my time here before.
“I'd be a fool not to say that when this team is at full strength and everyone is fit it could put pressure on the top three in this league, but at the moment we a big injury list, one of the worst I've seen at the club, so we need to make sure we address that too.
“The foundations have been laid by the previous manager and what we must now do is improve on our league position, which will be tough because of the club's injuries.
“But we have a superb medical team here and hopefully we can have a bit of good fortune on the treatment table.”
As to the possibility of bringing fresh players into the side, Holloway added: “I'm very much an open-minded person when it comes to assembling the squad.
“I like bringing through up ad coming talent because you can't beat seeing young players come through the ranks and where their home club's shirt with pride.
“Jade Formaston is the perfect example of that here at Coventry. She is the perfect role model for any young footballers in this city.
“But having said that sometimes bringing in a new player from elsewhere can bring a bit of freshness to the side.
“I have personal targets of my own but I like them to stay within all four walls of the dressing room because I don't want to attract any unnecessary expectation.”